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Spots Kids Love Along the National Mall (Day 1)

Highlights for families along the National Mall

Rating: 5 out of 5 by EveryTrail members

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.4 miles

Duration: Full day

Family Friendly

Overview :
Put on your walking shoes and get ready to explore the National Mall. This is a quick, one-day itinerary for families who have just a ... more »little time in Washington, D.C., and want to get the most out of their trip. The tour includes plenty to keep children occupied, with a few historical and political tidbits in between. It is meant to span morning until lunch, but depending on your child's interest in some of the attractions it could take even longer. All attractions are absolutely free. This guide can be coupled with a second itinerary as well. less «

Tips:
Be sure to warn your kids that they'll be going through security at each building you enter along the National Mall. If carrying bags,... more » security personnel will either peek inside or have visitors put the bags through metal detectors. Some museums do not allow large bags, so plan accordingly.

There aren't a lot of places to eat along the National Mall that aren't affiliated with museums, so to save some time and money, bring along some nonperishable snacks. Most museums don't allow liquids, but packaged goods should be OK if they are tucked away in your purse or a bag. If you don't have time to get snacks, vendors sell snacks outside museums that are generally less expensive than food sold in cafes.

Wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot to see along the National Mall, but buildings and monuments are spread out.

Be sure to use the crosswalks when crossing major streets. At each intersection, blinking signs count down the seconds until lights change, so make a game out of counting down with the kids. less «

Points of Interest

Start your morning bright an early at the Washington Monument Lodge, where timed tickets go on sale for elevator trips up the Washington Monument. Ticket sales start at 8:30am on a first-come first-served basis, but a line starts forming around 7am or earlier. Tickets run out quickly but one person can pick up as many as six, so it might be a good... More idea for someone to stay in line while everyone else hits the museums.

While you're waiting, explain to the kids that the obelisk they are standing in front of is the centerpiece of the National Mall. Point out that the Washington Monument is the tallest structure in Washington, D.C., and the tallest stone structure in the world (there are taller monumental columns, but none are all stone). Look for a line where the color of the stone changes about a third of the way up the monument: This is where construction was halted during the Civil War.
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15th St. NW in front of the Washington MonumentLess

The National Air and Space Museum fills up fast, so it's best to get there as early in the day as possible. Kids and adults can gawk at artifacts such as the Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command module--many of which are hanging overhead. There is also a lunar rock sample that visitors can touch and interactive... More displays and science demonstrations that teach kids about the history, science and engineering of flight and space exploration. Any child fascinated with planes or the planets will want to spend lots of time here, so plan accordingly.
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Independence Ave. at 6th St., SW
202-633-2540
http://www.nasm.si.edu/
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Admission Free
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Hours
Daily 10am-5:30pm (7:30pm during the summer)Less

On your way to the U.S. Capitol, make a detour to the U.S. Botanic Garden, a glass building that actually sits on the grounds of the Capitol. Kids interested in plants will love walking through the outdoor and indoor gardens as they read all the labeled plant names (there are around 26,000 plants in all).

Some favorite sections for the kids to... More explore include the desert, the orchid garden, the Hawaiian house and the room with rare and endangered plants. There is also a children's garden in the courtyard, where many vibrant plants are kept in order to encourage interest in plants at a young age. Just don't use the gardens as a place to escape the harsh summer heat; most of the conservatory does not have air conditioning.

If you want to give the kids a little history lesson, look for the Crittenden Oak, which is planted on a spot where politician John J. Crittenden made an address in an effort to avert the Civil War.
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100 Maryland Ave., SW
202-225-8333
http://www.usbg.gov/
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Admission Free
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Hours
Daily 10am-5pmLess

A trip to Washington, D.C., wouldn't be complete without a picture on the steps leading to the U.S. Capitol, one of the most symbolically important buildings in the world, so head there next.

Home to the legislative branch of the government and a fine example of 19th century Neo-Classical architecture, this is also the center point from which the... More quadrants of the District of Columbia are divided.

Between the Capitol building and 1st St. East is the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, an underground complex that houses an exhibition hall, two gift shops and a food court. The center was completed in 2008 and built underground so that it would not infringe on the appearance of the Capitol itself or the grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1874.

If you want to actually explore the Capitol, tickets are available to order ahead of time online or by phone.
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First and East Capitol Streets, NE
202-226-8000
http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
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Admission Free
Tickets required
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Daily 8:30am-4:30pmLess

Depending on the time on your ticket, you may have already had to make a detour at the Washington Monument. Even if you and the family decide to not go up inside, getting a picture next to the sculpture is a must. Try it from all angles: with the Lincoln Memorial or the Capitol Building in the background, or from up close and from farther away.

... More
Remind the kids that the 50 flags that ring the monument stand for each state, and see if they can name them all. From here, the opposite side of the Mall (where most of the memorials are) is yours to explore--it really just depends on how much more walking you'd like to do.
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10th Street and Constitution Ave. NW
202-633-1000
http://www.mnh.si.edu/
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Admission Free
Timed tickets required for elevator ride
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Hours
Daily 9am-10pm (summer)
Daily 9am-5pm (rest of year)Less

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